The Gateway

In February, I discussed the need to bolster MC4's clinical resources by adding upon our already experienced staff of nurses, medics and patient administration personnel. By adding to the ranks Dr. Greg Jolissaint, MC4's new medical director and chief, I'm proud to announce the formation of MC4's new Clinical Operations Office.

The clinical operations mission will be to advise clinical personnel and leadership, during exercises and deployments, on how to utilize the MC4 system to their advantage, and make greater use of its command and control capabilities.

Dr. Jolissaint brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team. His previous positions include deputy commander for clinical services of Womack Army Medical Center, command surgeon for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), as well as U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). He also served as commander of a deployed combat support hospital and of the 18th Medical Command in South Korea.

I will keep you posted on the team's outreach initiatives and how you can utilize the group to take your MC4 use to the next level. For now, feel free to send your MC4-related clinical questions to our new Clinical Operations Office directly to Dr. J and his team via email at mc4.clinops@us.army.mil.

Few things make people snicker like the name of a country in eastern Africa, but what the U.S. Army is doing there is no joke. U.S. Service members in Djibouti, Africa, provide a vital service in support of Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), promoting security and stability throughout the region.

In August, the 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment began using MC4 systems in the garrison aid station at Camp Lemonnier. The post is a former French Foreign Legion camp, now occupied by the U.S. Army.

Implementation of the EMR system at this location will deliver Service members’ a more complete, digital medical history. Medical staff there will also gain experience on a system they may use in future deployments. After all, MC4 is currently in use by Army units in 16 countries, not including countries where Army Special Operations Forces operate.

With MC4 now in U.S. Africa Command, the U.S. South Command remains the only one not using MC4 to date. In future blogs I’ll continue to provide updates on the expanded use of MC4 in garrison facilities, as well as worldwide. To utilize the MC4 system in your garrison aid station, contact your local MC4 representative.

Last month's feature article focused on the 452nd CSH's Lean Six Sigma project, which evaluated the inpatient functionality of AHLTA-T throughout the facility in Afghanistan. Recently, the 421st CSH produced a case study on the use of MC4 systems in Balad, Iraq, while deployed in 2007.

A team led by 1st Lt. Nadine Alonzo, PAD officer for the 421st CSH, evaluated the quality control processes related to patient documentation via MC4. The team also studied the configuration of MC4 systems throughout the facility, as well as the reliability of patient data transferring to TMDS and JMeWS.

System issues noted in the study, such as files not transmitting to TMDS, have long been resolved with the fielding of MC4 EMR 2.1 last summer. Changes to local business processes, enforced by published fragmentary orders, made significant improvements to the use and maintenance of MC4 systems by unit personnel.

The two studies demonstrate how units have not only embraced the use of the EMR system, but strived to improve the system's use and functionality through their own ingenuity. Their efforts are commendable and benefit Service members by way of a more complete, lifelong medical history.